But investigators are seeing much more insurance fraud that relies on keeping addicts hooked. Experts say it’s a lethal, multi-million dollar cycle of intentional failure, involving unscrupulous treatment providers who profit by keeping and ultimately killing their clients.

A focal point for this fraud is South Florida, where a law enforcement task force recently made more than 30 arrests.

The FBI has found unnecessary lab tests, or faked urine samples, double-billing and illegal kickbacks. Some centers even withhold treatment or give patients addictive drugs so that they relapse and keep qualifying for coverage.